Grain planter



June 9, 1931. sc ou 1,809,072

GRAIN PLANTER Filed Jan. 9, 1930 INVENTOR BY ilk/26'] 56/700 Patented June'9, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT O FFiCE MICHEL F. SCI-IOU, OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOB OF ONE-HALF TO MARY MAZUR, OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN GRAIN PLANT'ER Application filed January 9,- 1930.

The main object of this invention is to provide in a grain planter an improved dropping mechanism whereby rain such as corn may be accurately dropped in spaced relation.

15 A further object is to provide a dropping mechanism which may be applied as an attachment to the check-row type of planters or may be readily built into or incorporated in such type of planters.

Objects relating to details and economies of my invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical view partiallyin vertical section of a planter embodying the features of my invention, the parts of my attachment or improvements being inclicated in full lines, the remaining portions being illustrated by dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of parts of my invention.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view showing the dropping mechanism in inoperative relation, partially sectioned on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents one of the carrying and driving wheels and 2 the driven axle.

The furrow opener or shoe 3 is mounted on a frame 4 extending forwardly from the axle.

The hopper 5 is associated with a feed mechanism designated generally by the numeral 6. As this feed mechanism and details of the shoe form no part of my invention, they are not detailed herein.

The dropping mechanism is provided with an arm 7 mounted on the side of the shoe or boot 8, the dropping mechanism being housed within this boot.

The dropping control rockshaft 9 is connected by the parts 10 to this arm 7 so that as the rockshaft is oscillated, the dropper is actuated. These particular details also are not illustrated as they form no part of this invention.

50 The rockshaft 9 is provided with an uppartially in Serial No. 419,504.

wardly projecting arm 11 which is connected by the link 12 to one arm of the bell crank lever 13. The link 12 is longitudinally slotted at 14 to receive the pin 15 on the lever.

A thrust block 16 is pivotally mounted at 17 on the end of the link so that it may be swung down into abutting relation to the lever, thereby locking the pin 15 in the end of the slot and connecting the lever to the link so that as the lever is oscillated its movement is imparted to the link. When the thrust block is swung to inoperative position shown in Fig. 4, the lever may oscillate without imparting its motion to the link.

The lever is mounted on a pivot 18 between A cam 22 is rotatably and slidably mounted on the axle between the arms of the bracket to coact with the actuating lever. This cam is provided with a clutch member 23 coacting with the clutch member 24 pinneol to the axle.

The shifting lever 25 is mounted on the axle and provided with a cam 26 coacting with a cam 27 on one of the bracket bearing members so that when the lever 25 is shifted to one position the clutch members are engaged and held in engagement, and when shifted to releasing position the coiled spring 28 arranged between the clutch members acts to disengage them-see Fig. 3.

A spring 29 connected to 'the lever 18 above its pivot and to the bracket acts to hold the lever. in coacting relation to the cam. The front end of the bracket is supported by the bar 30 which is mounted at its front end on the rockshaft 9, the rear end being slidably or telescopingly engaged with the front end of the bracket which is provided with a longitudinal pocket or holder for the rear end of the bar. This permits the raising and lowering of the furrow opener and the parts moving with it. p 1

My improvements are readily embodied in machines of the check-row type either as attachments or incorporated as'the machine is built. Y Y

I have shown only such parts of the mechanism as seen essential to a proper understand ing thereof and have not attempted to illustrate various embodiments and adaptations which might be desirable to adapt to ma chines of particular makers. V 1

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. The combination in a. planter including a dropping mechanism and carrying and driving wheels provided with an axle, of a dropping mechanism actuating rockshaft 0peratively connected with the dropping mechanism, an arm on said rockshaft, a bell crank actuating lever, a link pivoted to said arm on said rockshaft and having a slot therein, said actuating lever being provided with a pin engaging said'slot, a thrust member pivotally mounted on said link and adapted when swung to oneposition to hold the pin in engagement withthe end of the slot whereby a movement of the actuating lever is imparted to the rockshaft and in another position to permit movement of the lever without actuating said rockshaft, a cam on said axle coacting with said actuating lever, a return spring for said lever, and a clutch for detachably connecting said cam to said axle.

2. The combination in a planter including a dropping mechanism and carrying and driving wheels provided with an axle, of a dropping mechanism actuating rockshaft operatively connected with the dropping mechanism, an arm on said rockshaft, a bell crank actuating lever, a link pivoted to said arm on said rockshaft and having a slot therein, said actuating lever being provided with a pin engaging said slot, a thrust member pivotally mounted on said link and adapted when swung to one position to hold the pin in engagement with the end of the slot whereby a movement of the actuating lever is imparted to the rockshaft and in another position to permit movement of the lever without actuating said rockshaft, and a cam on said axle coacting with said actuating lever;

3. The combination in a planter including clutch member, a coacting clutch member fixed to said axle, a spring between said clutch members acting to disengage the same, a shifting lever provided with a cam coacting with the cam on said bracket whereby said clutch members are actuated to and retained in engagement, and a spring acting to hold said actuating lever in engagement with said cam. 7

4. The combination in a planter including a dropping mechanism and carrying and driving wheels provided with a driven axle, of a rock shaft operatively associated with said dropping mechanism and provided with an arm, a bifurcated supporting bracket having bearing members coacting with said axle for supporting the bracket at one end, a supporting bar for the front end of said bracket mounted on said rockshaft and having sliding engagement with the forward end of said bracket, an actuating lever pivotally mounted on said bracket between its arms, a link connecting said actuating lever to said arm on said rockshaft, a cam rotatably mounted on said axle between the arms of said bracket, a clutch for connecting said cam to said axle, and a spring acting to hold said actuating lever in' engagement with said cam. 5. The combination in a planter including a dropping mechanism and carrying and driving wheelsprovided with a driven axle, of a rock shaft operatively associated with said dropping mechanism and provided with an arm, a supporting bracket having a hearing member coacting with said axle for supporting the bracket at one end, a supporting bar for the front end of said bracket mounted on said rockshaft, an actuating lever pivotally mounted on said bracket, a link connecting said actuating lever to said arm on said rockshaft, a cam on said axle, anda spring acting to hold said actuating lever in engagement with said cam.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

MICHEL F. SCI-IOU.

a dropping mechanism and carrying and driving wheels provided with a driven axle,of a rockshaft operatively associated'with said dropping mechanism and provided with an arm, a bifurcated supporting bracket having bearing members coacting with said axle for supporting the bracket at one end, one of said bracket bearing members having a cam thereon, a supporting bar for the front end of said bracket mounted on said rockshaft and having sliding engagement with the forward end of said bracket, an actuating lever pivotally mounted on said bracket between its arms, a link connecting said actuating lever to said arm on said rockshaft, a cam rotatably and slidably mounted on said axle between the arms of said bracket and provided with a 

